My thoughts on the Phillies season.

Kyle Kenrdick becomes the first Phils’ starter to be knock out of the box before the Phils lose to the D-backs, 9-5.

Spot-starter Kyle Kendrick becomes the first Phils’ starter to last less than five innings as he is knocked out of the box in the fourth inning, before the Phils finally end up losing to the D-backs, 9-5, although scoring five runs in the ninth, highlighted by back-to-back home runs.

The D-backs took the lead in the first as, with a runner on second and with nobody out, Aaron Hill hits an RBI double, after it was first called a two-run home run, before being corrected via instant replay, knocking in Gerardo Parra, who had started the inning off with a double of his own, giving the D-backs a 1-0 lead. The D-backs then took a 2-0 lead as Justin Upton hits a sacrifice fly, scoring Hill, after he had earlier stolen third base. Two batters later, the D-backs made it a 3-0 lead as, with a man on first, and with one man out, Jason Kubel hits an RBI double, knocking in Miguel Montero, who had earlier been hit by the pitch. Three batters later, with runners on the corners, and now with two men out, John McDonald hits an RBI single, scoring Kubel, who had moved up to third base on Cody Ransom’s ground out, 3-unassisted, giving the D-backs a 4-0 lead, while sending Lyle Overbay, who had just walked, up to second base. The D-backs added to their lead in the second as, with the bases loaded, via singles by Hill, Upton and Montero, and with two men out, Ransom hits a two-run double, knocking in Hill and Upton, giving the D-backs a 6-0 lead, while sending Montero up to third base. The D-backs then made it a 7-0 lead in the fourth as Upton hits a lead-off home run, his first home run of the season, running Phils’ starter Kyle Kendrick out of the game in the process. Two batters later, with one man out, the D-backs made it an 8-0 lead as Kubel hits a solo home run of his own, his second home run of the year. The D-backs increased their lead in the seventh as, with a runner on third, and with one man out, Parra hits a sacrifice fly, scoring McDonald, who had earlier doubled, then rmoved up to third base on Carlos Ruiz’s passed ball, giving the D-backs a 9-0 lead. The Phils finally got on the scoreboard in the ninth as, with a runner on first, and with nobody out, Laynce Nix hits an RBI double, knocking in Placido Polanco, who had started the inning off with a single, making it a 9-1 D-backs’ lead. Two batters later, with runners on the corners, and with still nobody out, Shane Victorino hits a three-run home run, his third home run of the year, and the first Phils’ home run with runners on base, scoring Nix, who had stopped at third base on Ty Wigginton’s single, and Wigginton, who had just singled, cutting the D-backs’ lead down to 9-4. The Phils then made it a 9-5 D-backs’ lead as Ruiz followed with a solo home run, his second home run of the season. But that would end up being the final score as Pete Orr ended the game by grounding out, 4-3, for the final out.

Kyle Kendrick (0-1, 9.39) took the lost as he lasted only three innings plus one batter, giving up seven runs on eleven hits and a walk, while striking out just one batter. David Herndon pitched two and two-thirds innings, giving up a run on three hits and a walk, while he struck out four. Joe Savery pitched an inning and a third, giving up an unearned run on a hit and a passed ball, while he struck out one. Jose Contreras pitched a scoreless inning, giving up a hit and a walk, while striking out one. Wade Miley (2-0, 1.84) got the win as he threw six strong innings, giving up just two hits and a walk, while striking out seven. Brad Ziegler and Jonathan Albaladejo combined for two scoreless innings, giving up three hits (Ziegler (1), Albaladejo (2)) between them, while striking out a batter (Albaladejo). Joe Patterson pitched to five batters, getting none of them out, as he gave up five runs on five hits. Craig Breslow pitched an inning, as he gave up a hit.

The Phils had eleven hits in the game, getting six of them in their last at bat, with Ty Wigginton (Singles) and John Mayberry, Jr (Single, Double) both leading the team with two hits apiece. Juan Pierre (Single), Placido Polanco (Single), Laynce Nix (Double, RBI), Shane Victorino (Home Run, 3 RBIs), Carlos Ruiz (Home Run, RBI) and Pete Orr (Double) had the other seven Phils’ hits, as the Phils finally strung together a big inning which included three extra-base hits (Double, 2 Home Runs), even if it was a case of too little, too late. Hopefully that will be the precursor of the offense coming out. The Phils also had a walk in the game.

The Phils (7-10, 5th East) will continue their visit with the Diamondbacks (9-8, 4th West) with a night game tonight. The game will be played at Chase Field and will start ay 9:40 pm EDT (6:40 pm MDT). The Phils wil send to the mound Vance Worley (1-1, 2.37), who is coming off a win against the Padres on April 19, as he threw seven shutout innings, giving up just four hits and three walks, while he struck out eleven, in the Phils’ 2-0 win. Worley will be out to stop the Phils’ three game winning streak, while trying to control the D-backs’ bats. The D-backs with counter with Josh Colllimenter (0-1, 10.22), who is coming off a lost against the Braves, as he pitched five and one-thirds innings, giving up four runs on six hits and a walk, while striking out four, in the D-backs’ 10-2 lost. He will be trying to win his first start of 2012. The Phils will be trying to gain some momentum from their last at-bat in the previous game, while trying to even up the series.

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